Godolphin Colts Chase Group One Coolmore Win

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday October 31
James Cummings is looking for a gear change to bring success this Saturday for Godolphin in their bid to create a new stallion prospect with a win in the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Since the race was upgraded to Group I status in 2006, Godolphin have won it only once with Sepoy in 2011 and they would love to improve their record.

KementariKementari (pictured Steve Hart) heads into arguably Australia's most important three-year-old race with the winkers to be applied after he galloped down the famous Flemington straight course on Tuesday in company with his stablemate Bandipur in the gear.

"The race is a hugely important race for the company (Godolphin)," Cummings told Clinton Payne of Racenet. "These colts are racing for a lot more than just the prizemoney.

"The winner of this race, if a colt, has a stud career ahead of him."

Kementari comes out of the Caulfield Guineas where the son of Lonhro looked the winner 100 metres from home before being gunned down late by the Mick Price-trained Mighty Boss.

"We're happy to run him in them," Cummings said. "It's a case of trying something with him without getting carried away.

"He's a fast colt and he's giving me a lot but at times it's all a bit of a game for Kementari.

"He's only lightly-raced this preparation, he only had two lead-up runs into the Caulfield Guineas.

"He hasn't been hammered and has trained on like a horse that could really launch late at them. I think he's got another one in him."

A half-brother to stakes-winner Telperion, Kementari comes from the Joy and Fun branch of the Denise's Joy family so has pedigree aplenty should a Group I win land next to his name and a stud career ensue.

Kementari is likely to be joined in the Coolmore Stud Stakes by his stablemates, the undefeated Viridine (Poet's Voice (GB) and Malahat (Exceed and Excel), the horse that beat Kementari on debut by 2-1/4 lengths.

Malahat will also have a gear change on Saturday with blinkers added to his race day attire while there's no changes for Viridine.

"I'm really looking forward to getting Malahat back onto a firm track on Saturday," Cumming said.

"He's an interesting runner for us and one that has good speed about him.

"The hardest to beat for us would have to be Viridine. He is the pure speed sprinter.

"He's improved out of the Roman Consul, his attitude is improving all the time and he worked great this morning which he normally does."


Advertisment
More Reading...
Dam of Coco Sun to be offered at Inglis Broodmare Sale
There were emotional scenes at Riverside as the Tyreel Stud team watched one of their favourite fillies Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun) win the G1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville and her dam, who is back in foal to The Autumn Sun, will be offered in the Inglis Broodmare Sale on Friday.
Yarraman Park Celebrate Historic Achievement - I Am Invincible Sets New Record
One of Australia's premier thoroughbred studs, Yarraman Park proudly acknowledges a momentous milestone in the world of horse racing and breeding in Australia.
Alma Vale / Kitchwin Hills to Offer Lone I Am Invincible Filly at Inglis Weanlings
The newly created Alma Vale /Kitchwin Hills Partnership run by Verna Metcalfe (General Manager of Alma Vale and Kitchwin Hills) and Stud Manager Oscar Englebrecht has hit the ground running this year and have been kept busy at Riverside Stables this week with a draft of 24 youngsters to be offered at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale next Monday and Tuesday.
Mystik Dan Triumphs in Dramatic Kentucky Derby
While the close relatives Sierra Leone and Forever Young (JPN) engaged in a not-so-friendly family spat down the straight, Mystik Dan enjoyed an unhindered rail run to capture the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Dowms, completing a memorable weekend for jockey Brian Hernandez Jr and trainer Ken McPeek.
War Decree Fee Rise
Inglewood Stud’s young stallion War Decree will stand at a slightly increased fee of $7,000 +GST in 2024, up from $5,500 in 2023.
Western Empire Turns Back the Clock
The winner of the 2021 Group 1 WATC Railway Stakes and Group II Western Australian Derby, the 6-year-old Iffraaj (GB) gelding Western Empire turned back the clock to win Sunday’s $200,000 Group III Tabtouch Northam Stakes (1300m).
Sires With Winners - Sunday May 5
Here is the full list of 56 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kristilli Added to Magic Millions Supplementary Mares
The build up to this month's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast has intensified with the release today of the first supplementary lots.
Guineas Upset – Shock Result
An unbeaten colt by a champion sire won the Group I Newmarket The Two Thousand Guineas (1m) overnight, but it wasn’t the one most people thought.
Danon Ayers Rock Back in Business
The winner of both of his starts at two, Mosheen’s son Danon Ayers Rock (JPN) lost his unbeaten record when finishing midfield in his seasonal debut in the Group II Deep Impact Kinen at Nakayama on March 3 before returning to the winner’s circle in Saturday’s Listed Principal Stakes (2000m) at Tokyo.